What you need to do to make sure you and your vessel are compliant with Australian laws and regulations, and maintain your vessel registration.
Owners and registered agents of Australian registered ships are required to comply with the relevant laws and regulations.
You have these obligations if you own a vessel.
What you must do
- You must use the registration certificate for the lawful navigation of your ship.
- You must notify us of the transfer of ownership within 14 days of purchasing a registered ship.
- You must deliver your registration certificate to us if we request it.
- You must maintain the markings of a ship at all times.
- You must comply with the flag requirements.
- You can only refer to a registered ship by its registered name.
- You must advise us of any change of your name or address using the notice of change of name, address or nationality form 210 within 14 days of the change and return the registration certificate to us.
- You must advise us of any alteration to the ship within 14 days of completion, submit a builder’s alteration form and return the registration certificate.
- You must advise us immediately of the loss of a ship, or the fact that the ship is no longer entitled to be registered, and return the registration certificate.
What you must not do
- You must not conceal Australian nationality.
- You must not make a false or misleading statement in relation to a registered ship.
Penalty for non-compliance
If you do not comply with the above obligations, you can be fined. The maximum penalty for the most serious offence is A$20,000, two years imprisonment, or both.
Related information
Last updated: 12 February 2020